Austintown receives first $1 million from racino

Austintown Township trustees at their Tuesday meeting announced the arrival of $1 million from the Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

“We are just excited to receive the first part of the money, and within a few months we will receive the second installation,” said Jim Davis, trustee.

The township used $850,000 of the $1 million to pay off a loan used to purchase a new communication system in a joint effort with Boardman Township. The townships split the cost of the new communication system.

In addition to receiving the $1 million this year and next year, the township will receive $500,000 every year after that as long as the racino remains open.

Davis said the additional funding from the racino enables the township to focus on improving and growing infrastructure.

In the future, the trustees will decide how to best use the monies.

Construction on the Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course is on schedule and set to open fall 2014.

The roof should be put on this week on the main building, Davis said.

Davis, during the meeting, also commented on the racing commission’s issue with the number of horse stalls at the racetrack.

In October, the racing commission publicly announced a concern with the number of stalls. The commission believes there should be upwards of 1,000, not the 760 stalls Penn National Gaming has set.

Davis said at the meeting he thinks the commission is “trying to put a loophole” in Penn National Gaming’s plans.

“We are not going to let up,” Davis said.

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